The number one ranked U.S. elite amateur team in 2004 is now one of the newest US Continental Pro Teams. The new team, Snow Valley Sponsored By Seal-On is the result of a joining of forces by Team Snow Valley and Breakaway Brand Builders. The squad retains its title sponsor from past years, Snow Valley Spring Water out of Marlboro, Maryland and adds a new international sponsor, Seal-On, a broad line of stop bleeding products manufactured by Alltracel plc in Dublin, Ireland.
The new Snow Valley/Seal-On squad brings a strong mix of veterans and talented young riders including: six-time U.S. National medalist and National Elite criterium Champion Jon Wirsing; two-time Pennsylvania State Champion Josh Taylor; two-time Pennsylvania State, former National U-23 Points Race Champion and Tour de Cuba stage winner Kyle Wamsley; 2003 U.S. national U23 Road Champion, Killington stage Race GC winner and former Ofoto rider Jonathan Erdelyi; U.S. Elite National Track Champion and U.S. World cup team member Mike Beers; Australian Ben Lindsay with eighteen top ten finishes in the U.S.; former Saturn U23 Development program member and winner of the mountain Jersey at the Tour de ‘Toona John DeLong; former National Collegiate Road Race Champion and 4th place finisher at the Univest Grand Prix Peter Baker; former U.S. National Team member in Europe Ryan DeWald; and former Virginia State Criterium Champion and Southwest Collegiate Cycling conference Champion Ryan McKinney; and top ten finisher at both the Housatonic Valley Road Race and the Elite Nationals Road Race Russ Langley.
According to Managing Director Arch McKown, "We've been working toward this season since 1995, when we first contacted Jon Wirsing to help us bring our amateur team to a higher level. Working with Olympic silver medalist Brian Walton helped us develop a top notch program and we were able to achieve one of our primary goals - to be the best elite amateur team in the country. Now, with our association with Breakaway Brand Builders and their sponsors, we're able to take the next big step and try to achieve the same level of success at the professional level."
The team will be getting together for the first time as a single group at a one-day mini-camp on January 15th which will include preseason fitness evaluations and training program planning as well as an inaugural group training ride. Preseason training camp will be held from March 15th-20th near Asheville, North Carolina.
Team Snow Valley Sponsored By Seal-On 2005 Roster
Jon Wirsing (USA), Josh Taylor (USA), Kyle Wamsley (USA), Mike Beers (USA), Jon Erdelyi (USA), Ben Lindsay (AUS), Ryan DeWald (USA), Ryan McKinney (USA), Russ Langley (USA), Peter Baker (USA) and John DeLong (USA).
:Support Staff : Managing Director Arch McKown, Managing Director Jamie Davis, Team Director Jon Wirsing, Team Manager Josh Taylor, Head Team Mechanic Chris Militello, Team Physician Marc Neiburg, D.O.
Team Snow Valley will again be aboard Bontrager equipped LeMond framesets. Preseason fitness evaluation and training will be conducted by Fitness Concepts. Additional product sponsorship is being supplied by Rudy Project, Hammer Nutrition/E-caps, Speedplay, Cateye, Serfas, Defeet and Squadra.
For additional information on Team Snow Valley Sponsored By Seal-On go to www.snowvalleycycling.com
